Insights · Buying costs
The DLD fee:
who pays the 4%.
The Dubai Land Department transfer fee is 4% of the sale price. DLD's own schedule splits it 2% seller and 2% buyer, but in practice the buyer customarily pays the full 4% in Dubai, unless buyer and seller agree otherwise.
On paper: 2% and 2%
When a property changes hands, the Dubai Land Department registers the sale and charges a transfer fee of 4% of the sale value. Its published schedule lists that 4% as two halves: 2% for the seller and 2% for the buyer.
In practice: the buyer pays all of it
That split is rarely how it works. In Dubai the market custom is that the buyer pays the whole 4%. A seller can agree to cover their half. If they do, make sure it's written into the agreement; if it isn't, plan as if you pay it all.
For example, on an AED 1,500,000 apartment, that's AED 60,000 due at transfer, on top of the price.
What else is paid on transfer day
The DLD fee is the largest cost, but not the only one. On a ready purchase you also pay the trustee (service partner) fee, AED 4,000 + VAT for a sale of AED 500,000 or more and AED 2,000 + VAT below that. Title deed and admin fees add about AED 520.
Off-plan purchases pay the same 4% DLD fee, but they're registered through the developer, so there's no trustee office visit.
How to budget for it
Before you compare properties, add the full 4% plus the trustee fee to every price you're considering. Two units at the same price cost the same to transfer. A cheaper unit with a seller who has agreed in writing to pay their 2% can work out better than it looks.
Questions buyers ask
How much is the DLD transfer fee in Dubai?
4% of the sale price, paid to the Dubai Land Department when the property is registered in the buyer's name.
Does the buyer or the seller pay the DLD fee?
The DLD schedule lists 2% for the seller and 2% for the buyer, but in Dubai the buyer customarily pays the full 4%, unless buyer and seller agree otherwise. If they do, get it written into the agreement.
What other fees are paid on transfer day?
On a ready purchase there is also the trustee (service partner) fee: AED 4,000 + VAT for a sale of AED 500,000 or more, and AED 2,000 + VAT below that. Title deed and admin fees add about AED 520.
Is the DLD fee also paid on off-plan property?
Yes. The 4% applies to off-plan purchases too. Off-plan sales are registered through the developer rather than at a trustee office.
Sources, checked 11 October 2026:
- Property Finder, DLD fees in Dubai (buyer commonly pays the full 4% in practice)
- BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates, Dubai real estate fees (market practice)
- Dubai Land Department, property sale registration (4% fee, trustee and title deed fees)
- VILORA Dubai Property Guide 2026 (trustee fee below AED 500,000, off-plan registration)
Figures can change; confirm the current fees before you transfer.